The automotive landscape has been shaken once again after RAM was forced to announce the massive recall of nearly 130,000 vehicles nationwide. The reason? A malfunction in the automatic cancellation system of some of its models, specifically the Ram 1500 manufactured between 2023 and 2024. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is in charge of issuing these kinds of notices, the defect in these vehicles can cause confusion for other drivers since, by not properly signalling direction changes, the likelihood of an accident increases significantly.
129,313 vehicles are affected and, although no injuries have been reported so far, the authorities considered this defect important enough to issue an immediate recall alert. Here is everything you need to know about this recall and how to proceed if you own one of these vehicles.
What happened?
The problem lies mainly in the automatic cancellation of the turn signals. That is, after changing direction or turning, the vehicle’s signal should automatically turn off, but it has been detected that in these models, this does not happen.
Of course, this creates confusion for other drivers, as the driver is not always aware that the signal is still on or has stopped working. Would it be normal to see a driver making unexpected manoeuvres or turns on the road? Well, the probability of collisions increases significantly because of this issue.
Which vehicles are affected?
As mentioned earlier, it’s the Ram 1500 produced between the years 2023 and 2024.
How do I know if my vehicle is affected?
Ram has been sending notification letters since October 29, 2024, so it’s likely that you’ve already been contacted. But if they haven’t reached out and you have a vehicle matching the recall criteria, you can go to your dealership (make sure it is authorized by the brand!!!) and they will check whether your vehicle is included in this recall or not.
Is there a recall number?
Of course. As always, the NHTSA details the reasons for the recall so you can request customer service. In this case, call 1-800-853-1403, with A1B being the recall number.
What is RAM?
It’s an American car brand that originated as a division of Dodge and has operated as an independent brand under the Stellantis group since 2010.
Specifically, the Ram 1500 is the brand’s best-selling vehicle and one of the top-selling pickup trucks in the country. Known for its towing capacity, payload, and power, it’s a favourite in rural areas and construction jobs.
Stellantis, quick in its response
While it’s true that this isn’t Stellantis’s first recall, and that this hasn’t been its best year either, Stellantis has acted quickly and transparently to provide its customers with a fast and necessary response, ensuring inspection and repair free of charge.
Every time a recall is issued, it’s natural for fear to arise. We’re talking about putting many lives on the road, and it seems that we don’t always have the certainty that vehicles are functioning optimally. However, it’s worth noting that when a company acts so quickly, it shows that vehicle monitoring doesn’t end once the keys are handed over to the driver, there’s still ongoing technical supervision years later. We can’t afford to ignore any risk, especially now, in a context where consumer trust is earned mainly through responsibility and guarantees!